I.

"Welcome home." Ronald said as he opened the door to his apartment the next day. No, he corrected himself, not his apartment, their apartment.

"It feels good to be home." Bonnie replied before stopping to contemplate the word, "Home. It's funny how it wasn't that long ago. I would never have thought of this place in those terms."

"I know. Things change, and all we can do is change with them."

"All too true." Bonnie said sadly.

"Do you need anything? Water, something to eat, or a pillow?" Ronald asked.

"Just a glass of water so I can take my antibiotics."

"Coming right up." Ronald answered as he rushed to the kitchen to fulfill the request.

"Thank you." Bonnie said as she used the water to wash down her pill. "But I told you once already that I don't need you babying me. I can take care of myself."

As if to prove that point, Bonnie stood up from the couch and snatched up the small plastic bag from Smartymart that contained a pair of pajamas for her and made her way to the bedroom.

"Are you sure? I can stay here if you need me to." Ronald protested as he began to follow.

Bonnie then turned around and snapped at Ronald, "Ronald, I told you in the car that I'm perfectly capable of staying here and resting while you go to the diner. In fact I told you that twice but you won't listen. I don't need a protector."

Ronald stood there and looked both hurt and dejected. He had thought that they were now a couple, but apparently, his definition of being a couple was different than Bonnie's.

Seeing the hurt look on Ronald's face, Bonnie softened her tone before continuing, "I'm sorry, Ronald. I didn't mean to snap at you like that. But I mean it when I say I don't want a protector. What I want is a boyfriend, a partner, an equal." Bonnie then sat down her bag and stepped towards Ronald. "Over the past few days, you've been a better boyfriend to me and looked out for me more than anyone else ever was. But I don't want to be a burden to you," Bonnie then held up her hand to cut off Ronald's protest, "I know your going to tell me that I'm not a burden. But that's how I feel, and I don't want to be that, I want to be a partner. And right now, the only way I can keep from being a burden is to stay here and rest and let you go and work at the diner. OK?"

Ronald looked at the woman in front of him and smiled as he gently hugged her. "I'm sorry, Bonnie. I guess I didn't realize how you felt or that maybe I was smothering you. It's just that you've become so important to me that I'm just a little overly cautious, is all." Then releasing his girlfriend, he continues, "I'll let you get your rest because tomorrow you're coming to work at the diner with me. If you feel up to it, that is."

"I'm sure I will. Now get out of here so a girl can have some privacy." Bonnie teased with a wink.

II.

Ronald sat down at one of the tables of his diner with a glass of water to take a break. He had been working for the past couple of hours cleaning, sorting, and generally getting the place ready for business tomorrow. The time spent doing any number of generally mindless chores had allowed him to think over his feelings and all that had happened during the past few days. Taking a sip of water, a part of Ronald wished that he could be back at his apartment with Bonnie. He missed her and wanted to check on her to make sure she was doing ok. Another part of Ronald wished that she could be here working beside him at the diner. Those were the days he always liked best. It was nice to have someone to share the burden of work with and share the same complaints about said work. It was also nicer when you could do that with a friend. But there was also a small part of Ronald that was actually glad to be working at the diner alone. It was giving him the chance to think through and digest what had happened the past few days and what had happened in Middleton. His first thoughts drifted back to the lunch he had had with Kim two days ago.

III.

Two hours, two devoured Nacos, and much conversation later, Kim and Ronald were once again driving down the streets of Middleton.

"Sorry to have to bail on you, Ronald, but I do have a meeting with the Red Cross that I have to attend today."

"Not a problem as long as you still plan on dropping me off at the hospital. But I didn't know that you worked for the Red Cross. What do you do?" Ronald asked.

"Sure do. I let them use my name and image to help them with fundraising. Plus, I sit on the board for the local Red Cross chapter here in Middleton. You know how I always liked helping people, well I found a way to get paid to do it."

"That's great, KP. I'm glad you found a way to make a living doing something you enjoy."

"Um, hum." Kim nodded her head in agreement. "What about you, Ronald? How is your diner working out?"

"It keeps me busy, but it's working out better now that I have someone helping me to run it."

"You hired someone to work with you? The last I heard, you were able to run the diner you self and didn't need to hire anyone to help you."

"He he, my dad pretty much said the same thing, but yeah, it turns out that I needed a little extra help running the place."

"What do they do at the diner? Do they work full time or just some part-time help?" Kim asked, her curiosity now peaked by this new information.

"She runs the cash register, helps clean tables, really helps with the bookkeeping, and just sort of generally helps out where she can."

"She? Does your girlfriend know about her?" Kim teased with a wink. "Either way though, it's great that you have someone working for you now, it means that you diner is becoming quite successful. I'm proud of you, Ronald."

"Thanks KP, yeah the diner is more successful now that I have some help with it. And as for my girlfriend knowing about my co-worker? Well I should hope they know each other, they're the same person." Ronald said with a slight chuckle at the surprised look that Kim wore.

"You're dating your co-worker?" Kim asked in surprise, "Isn't that a bit awkward?"

"A little at times."

"Such as when you two make out, I bet." Kim teased playfully as she watched Ronald blush slightly.

"No, that's not the awkward part."

"It's not awkward when you two make out? Then when is it awk…." Kim's sentence trailed off as her mind filled in the blanks, "TMI!"

"What?" Ronald asked innocently, "I never said anything like that. You're the one who thought it."

"But you didn't deny it either, buster." Kim pointed out as she pulled up to the front of Middleton General Hospital.

"Thanks for the ride, Kim." Ronald said as the car came to a stop in front of the main entrance.

"No problem, Ronald." Kim replied happily, "Are you sure you don't need me to pick you up later today?"

"Thanks for the offer, Kim, but I'm ok. Besides, I need to get back to Lowerton and check on my diner."

"Ok. But make sure that you come back to Middleton occasionally to check on your best friend."

Ronald's expression became a bit down cast at the mention of Kim's words.

"Ronald, what's wrong?" Kim asked.

"Sorry Kim, but I can't say that you're still my best friend."

Kim mentally kicked herself for her carless comment. She had really wanted to try and rebuild a friendship with Ronald, but now it looked as though she might have wrecked that by rushing things too quickly. Seeing the concerned look on Kim's face, Ronald clarified what he meant.

"I don't mean I don't want you as a friend, but I just can't be your best friend. That title belongs to Ron now, and my best friend is in there." Ronald explained as he pointed towards the hospital. Kim nodded her head in understanding while silently whispering a thank you to the fates that Ronald wasn't trying to pull away again.

As Ronald began to get out of the car, Kim decided to ask the one last question that was on her mind.

"Ronald, you mentioned that you're worried about telling your girlfriend about yourself, or rather that your Ronald and not Ron. My offer still stands. If you need me to help explain things to her, I'd be happy to do that?"

"Thanks, Kim, but no thanks. I need to do this by myself."

"Ok, I just wanted you to know that I have your back."

"Thanks, Kim, but I don't want you to have my back any more, you have his now."

"Ronald, I can have your back too, just like in the old days…"

"Damn it, Kim, I don't want it to be like the old days. It can't be like the old days." Ronald shouted as he turned on Kim. Taking a few breaths to calm down, he continued, "We can't be best friends. It just wouldn't be fair to either Ron or Bo….Look Kim, I'm sorry. I still have a lot of issues to sort through when it comes to you, ok?"

"Is that why you decided not to answer my e-mails or calls?" Kim asked in a small voice.

"Of course it is. I was hurt, Kim, and even though I was still in love with you, I knew I wasn't the one who could be your lover any more, that's for Ron now. So I had to get you out of my system, so I can at least be able to talk to you like this and not have my heart broken all over again."

"Ronald, I'm so sorr…"

"It's OK Kim, there wasn't anything that could be done about that. I know there is still something there because I want to care about you as a friend, and maybe someday love you like a sister or sister-in-law. But until I have that fully under control, I need to focus on someone who I can love and who I know can love me back as a lover. And when I'm ready I'll introduce you to my girlfriend, but it may take a while." Ronald then softened his glare a little as he continued, "Look Kim, in one day I lost both a friend and lover in you, and while I'll never get that lover back, it looks like the friend I lost might be showing up again. Just give me a little more time to finish sorting things out for myself. OK?"

Kim nodded her head and swallowed before speaking, "I understand, Ronald. Take all the time you need. You have my e-mail and phone number. Let me know when you are ready."

Ronald smiled softly, "Sure thing, KP." Then finally closing the car door to cut off any further conversation, Ronald turned and walked into the hospital.

Kim watched the retreating image of Ronald entering the hospital and sat there thinking about what he had said long after he was out of sight. Kim was so lost in her own thoughts that she didn't realize her car was blocking the road in front of the hospital until a security officer tapped on her window.

"Look, miss, you're blocking the road, now either move it along our I'll have to cite you and tow your car."

"Sorry, I guess I got lost in thought, I'll move my car." A chagrined and embarrassed Kim stammered as she put her car in to gear. She was still slightly tweaked at Ron from last night and didn't relish the thought of having to explain a parking ticket to him. Driving to the western side of the hospital, Kim found her usual parking spot, the one with a sign that read Red Cross Volunteer of the Year.

IV.

Ronald knew exactly where Bonnie's room was located in the hospital's recovery wing, but he didn't feel like going straight there. Instead, he wandered around the hallways of the hospital, shunning the elevators for the stairs in order to give himself more time to try and sort out the thoughts running through his head. After his conversation with Kim, his mind was now a jumble of emotions and conflicting feelings. He had been excited to try to reforge his friendship with Kim and had even admitted that he still cared about her.

But that admission was what was bothering him, as well as the question of just how much he cared about her? Mrs. Dr. P had been right when she told him yesterday that he needed to be honest with both himself and Bonnie about any lingering feelings that he might have about Kim.

Ronald didn't think that he had any lingering feelings for Kim; but after their conversation today at Bueno Nacho things felt almost like the old days when they would go there after high school and enjoy the cheap TexMex food. As Ronald continued to think about the old days, he came to a realization that the old days also carried baggage in the form of them being teased or belittled by a quite snooty Bonnie Rockwaller Closing his eyes as these memories came to him, Ronald had to admit that the old Bonnie was nothing like the new Bonnie, his new Bonnie, and that anything that made things like the old days could very well mean giving up Bonnie.

"No." The blond haired man said out loud, his outburst surprising both himself and a few people in the hallways. Then, in a much quieter voice, he continued talking to himself. "No, I won't lose Bonnie. Nothing is worth giving up Bonnie for, not even Kim."

Having finally reached this decision, Ronald now knew what he had to do, and that meant he needed to be honest with Bonnie about who he, Ronald Stoppable, really was. But first he needed to pay someone a visit.

V.

"Ronald, what brings you to my office?" Mrs. Dr. Possible asked as the young man gently knocked on the door.

"Hi Mrs. Dr. P. I was on my way to see Bonnie, but I thought I would come by and say hi first."

"Well, the thought is appreciated. But what did I tell you yesterday about what to call me?"

"He he, sorry about that, mom."

"That's better."

"But I did want to stop by and let you know that I'm taking your advice."

"I gave you a lot of advice last night, Ronald, so which one are you talking about?"

"All of it. I had lunch with Kim today."

"Oh? And how did that go?"

"Better than I thought it would. We both want to try to be friends again, but it's going to be harder than I thought."

"Yes, it probably will."

"But my talk with Kim did make me realize that things can't be like the old days, and if I want to move on, then I need to be honest with Bonnie about who I am."

"I'm glad to hear that, dear." Anne said with a smile as she began to type on her computer's keyboard. "Bonnie isn't scheduled to have any examinations right now, so she should be in her room if you want to see her."

Ronald nodded his head, "I'll do that now. Thanks for your help, mom."

"I'm glad I was able to help."

As Ronald left her office, Anne turned back to her computer to compose an e-mail when she heard a gentle knock on the door. Expecting to see Ronald again, Anne was surprised when she turned around and saw her daughter Kim standing there.

"Hi, mom."

"Kim, what are you doing here?"

"I wanted to talk to you for a few minutes, I sort of have some things on my mind."

"Would they happen to involve Ronald?"

Kim's look of surprise did not go unnoticed by her mother.

"No, I'm not psychic dear, just a mother. Besides, Ronald stopped by before you did, so I know that you two talked today."

"Yeah. It didn't go as well as I had hoped. Mom, he still hates me."

"Kim, Ronald does not hate you. But it is interesting to hear your assessment of things compared to his."

"Why? What did he say?"

"Sorry dear, that's doctor patient privilege there. But tell you what, I've got half an hour before I have to take the new group of interns for a tour of the hospital, why don't you tell me about your talk with Ronald."

VI.

"Hey, beautiful." Ronald said as he opened the door to Bonnie's room at the hospital.

"Hey!" Bonnie exclaimed, her face brightening as the magazine she had been reading fell from her grasp to the floor below.

"How are you doing today?" Ronald asked as he approached Bonnie's bed and gave her a small kiss before retrieving her magazine.

"Mmm, better now."

"Better now? Were you not feeling well before?" Ronald asked worriedly.

"No, I don't mean like that. Physically, I've been feeling fine all day. But I am a lot happier now that you're here."

"Oh, well, glad I could bring a little Ronshine to your day."

"I'm always happy to get a little Ronaldshine." Bonnie corrected with a smile.

"Ronaldshine, yeah, I guess that's what I bring you. So, have the doctors said anything yet about releasing you or about any other stuff?"

Bonnie shook her head no, "They haven't said anything specific about me leaving, other than it could be as soon as tomorrow, and they need to run a few more tests for the other stuff."

As if to prove her point, a nurse walked into the room pushing a wheel chair. "Mrs. Rockwaller, I'm here to take you to the OBGYN doctor for a few tests."

"Ahh, man. I just got here to see you. This tank." Ronald complained.

"Don't worry baby, you can stay here and wait for me." Bonnie said, "He can stay here and wait for me, can he?"

"Yes, he can wait for you here. The tests shouldn't take too long, maybe an hour at the most."

"It will be hard, but I think I can wait for you that long." Ronald said as he feigned heartbreak.

Bonnie rolled her eyes at his goofiness. "I said your sense of humor was one of the things I like about you, but you're kind of pushing it now funny guy."

"Anything for you."

"If you're willing to do anything for her, then how about you help our patient into the wheelchair, young man." The nurse interjected sweetly.

"I'm not helpless, I can do this." Bonnie protested.

"I'm sure you can, babe, but please, just until they release you lets follow the hospital rules, ok?" Ronald explained as he offered an arm for Bonnie to support herself with. After getting his girlfriend set comfortably in the chair, he gave her a small kiss on the check and promised to stay right there and wait for her.

VII.

Kim was both tired and cranky. The meeting of the local Red Cross chapter had dragged on and on, and it seemed like all the board members did was talk in endless circles. And all they were discussing today was assisting the hospital in its biannual blood drive, something they had done dozens of times in the past. Yet it seemed as if they were trying to reinvent the wheel in order to do so. Kim let out a long sigh of frustration as she also had to admit her shortcomings that day. Half of her mind had been thinking about both Ron and Ronald and her later conversation with her mother, which meant she hadn't truly been focused on the meeting at hand, which meant that they had to meet again in a few days to finish discussing what they should have finished today. With one last weary sigh, Kim boarded an elevator that was going down as she wondered how Ronald's visit with his mysterious girlfriend had gone. The elevator that Kim was riding in shut and began to descend just as the elevator next to it opened, and a large black female nurse exited the elevator, pushing a wheelchair with Bonnie in it.

"That was the last test the doctor needed. He should be by your room in a few hours to give you the results." Nurse Shelia explained.

"Good, I'm tired of being poked, probed, and generally having my privates looked at."

"Well, it could be worse. At least you didn't need a rectal exam."

Despite the humor in the nurse's voice, the former cheerleader couldn't help but shudder at the thought. But the promise of a little Ronaldshine would help to erase that thought from her mind.

"Either way, dear, at least you have someone waiting for you, and that can make anything better." The older, dark hued nurse stated sagely as she opened the door to Bonnie's room to reveal Ronald waiting patiently inside.

"Yes, it does." Bonnie agreed, "A little Ronaldshine can make anything better."

"But not for too long, I'm afraid. Visiting hours are almost over."

"That's ok, we'll make the most of the time." Ronald said as he helped Bonnie out of the wheelchair and back into her bed.

"Just don't make too much of it. Our little patient here is still recovering and doesn't need to exert herself too much."

"Yes, ma'am." He said with a fake salute which the nurse crisply returned.

"You are such a goofball." Bonnie chuckled, "And that's what I like about you."

"That's all you like about me? Boy, I tell you I get no respect." Ronald said as he adjusted an imaginary tie.

"That and other things, like how you're always here for me."

"Hey, when it comes to those I care about, I've always got their back, and I'll always be there for them."

"Thank you, Ronald. That means a lot to me right now." Bonnie said as her voice shook a little with nervousness.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm nervous about the results of the tests."

Ronald nodded his head as he sympathetically placed his hand on top of Bonnie's. "It'll be ok, I'm sure."

"But what if it's not?" She demanded.

"It might be, it might not be. We won't know until the doctor comes back. But until then, it won't do us any good to worry and stress out about it."

Bonnie let out a long sigh as she accepted the wisdom of his words. She didn't know if Ronald had always been this caring and compassionate of a person, but if he had, then she was even more perplexed as to why he and Kim had broken up. Leaning back against her elevated bed, Bonnie decided that after she had been released from the hospital and they were working at the diner again that she would finally ask Ronald about him and Kim.